Pittsburgh could target a long-term starter at outside linebacker. Soon the Steelers will have to revamp their linebacking corps with youth.

Porter was one of the top pass rushers in college football in 2011. He had 9.5 sacks with 79 tackles, 17 tackles for a loss and one forced fumble. Porter has similar size and speed to Von Miller, although Porter may not be quite as explosive. The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder should add some bulk before coming out since he projects best as a 3-4 outside linebacker.

What's up with Walter having the Steelers pick at 22 (and before the Ravens)???

I'm still going to enjoy DeCastro and company for a while, but thinking ahead to the next draft, I can see any of the following making sense as early picks in the next draft:

FS/SS - a strong cover guy at either position, to play in sub-packages and eventually succeed Clark or Troy;
OLB - heir apparent for Harrison, depending on the development of Worilds;
CB - can never have too many;
ILB - depends on the development of Spence
OG - Colon and his salary sent packing, with Adams stepping in at LT, Gilbert back to RT;
WR - depending on Wallace;
TE - a receiver to complement Heath and give Ben another weapon.

In any event, with the lines more or less settled (provided that everybody this year pans out), the Steelers should have plenty of options and a good degree of flexibility.

Flasteel

05-03-2012, 04:50 PM

Seriously? There are so many variables involved with who we will target - let alone select - in next year's draft, that this is a completely retarded exercise in futility. I get that that maybe you are just having a little fun, but C'mon Man! :D

Northern_Blitz

05-03-2012, 05:04 PM

How many picks did it cost the Steelers to move up from 32 in these mocks?

Good ol' Walter left out the best safety in next years draft, FS, LSU Eric Reid. Eric Reid is in a class by himself. McDonald is better suited at SS same with Armstrong. They will struggle with coverage in the NFL. I love Tony Jefferson. Small but a big time play maker.

I would love to get one of the elite corners, David Amerson, and my favorite, Jonathan Banks of Miss. State. Interesting how they are leaving off Bacarri Rambo. He is a straight ball hawk but recently came up dirty for smokin marijuana.

RuthlessBurgher

05-03-2012, 05:57 PM

Good ol' Walter left out the best safety in next years draft, FS, LSU Eric Reid. Eric Reid is in a class by himself.

Perhaps they aren't projecting who is going to come out as juniors yet, since Reid just finished his sophomore season.

Wait...they projected Lattimore in these mocks, and he's in the same boat as Reid (both entering their junior season in 2012). I dunno.

RuthlessBurgher

05-03-2012, 05:59 PM

Seriously? There are so many variables involved with who we will target - let alone select - in next year's draft, that this is a completely retarded exercise in futility. I get that that maybe you are just having a little fun, but C'mon Man! :D

After witnessing how many trades went down in the first round this year, even doing a mock a day before the draft is essentially an exercise in futility anymore (never mind a year before). But we do it anyway! (if only to amuse ourselves, I suppose).

winwithd

05-03-2012, 07:52 PM

Maybe the double-dipping continues. Timmons and Woodley, Sanders and Brown, Brown and Allen, DeCastro and Adams, next year maybe we get two great safeties. I hear TJ McDonald is pretty good so lets say we take him in the first and then the other safety in the second. I heard safety is one of the strengths of next year's draft.

Although I certainly wouldn't mind getting Manti Te'o based on the little I've seen of him.

Flasteel

05-03-2012, 09:01 PM

After witnessing how many trades went down in the first round this year, even doing a mock a day before the draft is essentially an exercise in futility anymore (never mind a year before). But we do it anyway! (if only to amuse ourselves, I suppose).

True, but at least we have a full season of tape, a clear understanding of our needs, senior bowl week, the combine numbers, and a general idea of where we are drafting. Even with all of that, it's still a crapshoot...unless of course, you are Chadman.

The funny part is how many different sites have 2013 mock drafts. I guess there are a lot of people who like to engage in completely retarded exercises in futility.

papillon

05-03-2012, 09:57 PM

How many picks did it cost the Steelers to move up from 32 in these mocks?

:Bow:Bow:Bow:Bow

Pappy

Shoe

05-04-2012, 01:44 AM

Seriously? There are so many variables involved with who we will target - let alone select - in next year's draft, that this is a completely retarded exercise in futility. I get that that maybe you are just having a little fun, but C'mon Man! :D

Exactly.

e.g.
If Ziggy and Cam step up and ball, our LBs will look awesome and it won't even be considered a need.

If Cortez Allen/Curtis Brown/Crezdon Butler (any or all) become players, Ryan Clark will look like a star (and FS will be the least of concerns).

steelblood

05-04-2012, 07:47 AM

Exactly.

e.g.
If Ziggy and Cam step up and ball, our LBs will look awesome and it won't even be considered a need.

If Cortez Allen/Curtis Brown/Crezdon Butler (any or all) become players, Ryan Clark will look like a star (and FS will be the least of concerns).

I'll be very surprised if Crezdon Butler has a big year for us next season.

Clark is at the end of his career. His speed is shot and he has never been much of a ballhawk. In today's NFL is really helps to have a real ballhawk back there. There is no problem talking about the FS position. It is very deep in next year's draft, and there should be multiple players available in the back half of round one. Watching college football with an eye toward the Steelers is actually quite fun. I enjoy these discussions about prospects to watch in the fall and draft next spring.

steelblood

05-04-2012, 08:00 AM

Good ol' Walter left out the best safety in next years draft, FS, LSU Eric Reid. Eric Reid is in a class by himself. McDonald is better suited at SS same with Armstrong. They will struggle with coverage in the NFL. I love Tony Jefferson. Small but a big time play maker.

I would love to get one of the elite corners, David Amerson, and my favorite, Jonathan Banks of Miss. State. Interesting how they are leaving off Bacarri Rambo. He is a straight ball hawk but recently came up dirty for smokin marijuana.

I also like Dexter McCoil of Tulsa. Mid-round SS with great ball skills. He'd be a great backup/eventual replacement for Troy. He is huge. Robert Lester had a down year. But, he still looks like a day two pick to me.

steelblood

05-04-2012, 08:39 AM

Seriously? There are so many variables involved with who we will target - let alone select - in next year's draft, that this is a completely retarded exercise in futility. I get that that maybe you are just having a little fun, but C'mon Man! :D

You think that is bad? See my sig for a 2033 mock draft!

phillyesq

05-04-2012, 10:15 AM

Maybe the double-dipping continues. Timmons and Woodley, Sanders and Brown, Brown and Allen, DeCastro and Adams, next year maybe we get two great safeties. I hear TJ McDonald is pretty good so lets say we take him in the first and then the other safety in the second. I heard safety is one of the strengths of next year's draft.

Although I certainly wouldn't mind getting Manti Te'o based on the little I've seen of him.

I could see a double dip at safety next year or a safety/cb combo. I kind of like the double dip, instantly making an area on your team a strength for the future.

RuthlessBurgher

05-04-2012, 10:19 AM

I'll be very surprised if Crezdon Butler has a big year for us next season.

You never know...perhaps Whis is blown away by the play of William Gay and decides cut Crez Butler...then we pick him up again like Bryant McFadden (it's the Pittsburgh-to-Arizona-then-back-to-Pittsburgh cornerback pipeline, doncha know). ;)

aggiebones

05-04-2012, 01:55 PM

I do think they need to start drafting some Safeties in the 2-4th round and hope to get a good one cheap that can learn and progress into a starting role. Then if that fails, find one on the open market or 1st round pick. I don't think they draft next year a S with a first rounder. Troy and Clark are important members of this team and they aren't ready to go. Get a cheap one that can eat more plays in a mid round. And someone to replace Mundy obviously.

ILB is a need for a top pick. And I didn't pound the board for that this year. But next year it is important. OLB is a need soon too with Harrison getting up there. So targeting LBs is priority one next year. We have 4 spots and few backups of high level that can eventually start long term.

Shawn

05-04-2012, 03:12 PM

With the SS position and our system I think we need to look in the first couple rounds. But, finding a solid centerfielder can be done later. We need to take some shots in the later rounds.

RuthlessBurgher

05-04-2012, 03:43 PM

Two more 2013 mocks from national publications...both have us picking 31st overall and addressing the d-line:

SI.com's Andrew Perloff:

31. Pittsburgh Steelers -- John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
Scouts can't help but notice the massive Jenkins when they check out Jarvis Jones. The Steelers did draft Washington nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu in the fourth round of this year's draft, but there's no guarantee they've found Casey Hampton's successor yet.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers (http://www.planetsteelers.com/nfl/team/pittsburgh-steelers/67067): Jeffrey Whitaker, DT/DE, Auburn: The Steelers and Packers face off in a rematch of the Super Bowl XLV shootout in Dallas, with the outcome being the same. The Steelers look to their defensive line in the draft, going with Whitaker, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound run stuffer.

Two more 2013 mocks from national publications...both have us picking 31st overall and addressing the d-line:

SI.com's Andrew Perloff:

31. Pittsburgh Steelers -- John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
Scouts can't help but notice the massive Jenkins when they check out Jarvis Jones. The Steelers did draft Washington nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu in the fourth round of this year's draft, but there's no guarantee they've found Casey Hampton's successor yet.

31. Pittsburgh Steelers (http://www.planetsteelers.com/nfl/team/pittsburgh-steelers/67067): Jeffrey Whitaker, DT/DE, Auburn: The Steelers and Packers face off in a rematch of the Super Bowl XLV shootout in Dallas, with the outcome being the same. The Steelers look to their defensive line in the draft, going with Whitaker, a 6-foot-3, 315-pound run stuffer.

Key to long term success in messaging is to "consistently stay on message"

That is what sells

Dee Dub

05-04-2012, 06:07 PM

Two more 2013 mocks from national publications...both have us picking 31st overall and addressing the d-line:

SI.com's Andrew Perloff:

31. Pittsburgh Steelers -- John Jenkins, DT, Georgia
Scouts can't help but notice the massive Jenkins when they check out Jarvis Jones. The Steelers did draft Washington nose tackle Alameda Ta'amu in the fourth round of this year's draft, but there's no guarantee they've found Casey Hampton's successor yet.